ABOUT THIS BLOG

News, analysis, feature stories, random thoughts... if it's about college basketball, either in season or during the summer doldrums, you'll find it in Beyond the Arc.

Mike Miller

Mike Miller has been NBCSports.com's college basketball editor since 2003. It's a position he relishes; no wonder considering he transferred to Kansas to watch Paul Pierce play. Most of his favorite sports memories involve college hoops, usually during March, when every waking moment is spent thinking about March Madness.



No. 1 vs. No. 2, by the (hyped) numbers

Posted: Friday, February 22, 2008 12:55 AM
Filed Under: , , ,

College basketball’s regular season gets tagged as blasé, but even naysayers should be pumped about Saturday.

After all, No. 1 vs. No. 2 just doesn’t happen that often. Top 10 games, sure. But this’ll be the 38th time since 1949 when the top teams face off in what should be the regular-season’s best game.

In this instance, the SEC’s best team, Tennessee, travels to No. 1 Memphis. No, the game isn’t on Tobacco Road, but hoops in the state of Tennessee shouldn’t take a backseat to anyone this season. (Well, maybe Indiana, with its four ranked teams would have something to say about that.)

Especially when one considers Memphis (26-0) hasn’t lost at home in 47 games and wants to avenge last season’s 76-58 thrashing. It all turns an already fierce rivalry into a monster game. (Want a ticket? Got $10,000?)

Beyond all that hype, there’s plenty more:

Expect defenses to take center stage. It’s the nation’s best defensive team vs. a team that thrives on forcing turnovers.

It’ll be fast. Memphis gets more than 71 possessions a game, Tennessee 73.2.

Joey Dorsey will own the boards. The Vols’ Wayne Chism is good (10.3 OR%, 20.2 DR%), but Memphis’ beast on the inside is among the top 10 in OR% (16.3) and DR% (28.4).

The free-throw line will hardly be free. Tennessee is 302nd in FT percentage, but Memphis is worse at 338th (58.8 percent!).

Kenpom.com expects an 81-71 Memphis win. I think it’ll be like 89-85, Memphis. Feels like a game where the Vols can keep it close with outside shooting and balanced scoring, but  will fall short in a hostile environment.

More tidbits?

  • The last time an undefeated No. 1 team played No. 2 this late in the season, top-ranked UNLV beat Arkansas, 112-105, on Feb. 10, 1991 in Fayetteville, Ark.
  • Before this season, Memphis spent one week at No. 1 in the polls. It lost, 64-56, to Virginia Tech on Jan. 10, 1983.
  • Tennessee has beaten No. 1 once. Dec. 6, 1969 at South Carolina.
  • No. 1 has won 19 of the 37 meetings against No. 2, but has lost five of the last 6, including Wisconsin’s 49-48 loss to Ohio State last season.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

The Big Orange will win, no question.  Memphis can run, but they can't shoot.  Tennessee can run and they can shoot.  And, Tennessee can play defense as good as any team out there when they want to.  They'll want to play defense Saturday night.  There will be alot of points and Tennessee will have more when it's over.  Tennessee 87, Memphis 79.

Robert Moore, Maryville, Tenn. (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 9:17 AM)

I DO BELIEVE MEMPHIS WILL TAKE THIS ONE ON THIS BIG SATURDAY!

ARMY MAN, MEMPHIS TN (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 10:40 AM)

Memphis has 10 players that can hang with any other team's best 5.  

If any of UT's first 5 get into foul trouble, this  could get ugly.

UM by 10.  



Seth, Memphis TN (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 2:57 PM)

I think memphis will be all over UT like the proverbial "spider monkey". CDR anf the rest of the Tigers will still be #1 on Sunday and still be undefeated.  The best thing is that both teams are from Tennessee and they will probably get to see each other again in San Antonio at the dance.

Ron Goss Germantown TN (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:13 PM)

Both teams are having the seasons of their lives.  They both should be proud to have the opportunity to represent the State of Tennessee. Both of the coaches are two of the best coaches in the game today. It is bad that one of these teams has to lose. I give the nod to Memphis, because it is a home game for them.  When you are a great team such as the Tigers, it is hard to go into someones house and come out with a W.  A win is a win and it may come down to one point.

matt dillon, nashville, tn (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 3:48 PM)

I'm a Vol all the way, but I don't think we can take them this year. Last year we got them early when they had a freshman point gaurd and their big got got a foul and a tech in the first two minutes. They had no other bigs because their back up was suspended for the game. Memphis is much more expierienced and battle tested. I just feel they won't lose this one at home. Should be a good game and shouldn't hurt either teams post season status. Go Vols!!!!

Knoxville tn (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 6:26 PM)

Calipari is a arrogant pompass coach and is overrated in every aspect! He wasnt that good at UMASS..I believe Memphis will choke just as they do every year in the tournament when things get tough.Remember last year.I cant believe all the hype about them and they play in conf-USA come on give me a break HAHA.Anyone could go undefeated playing High School teams like they do..Tonight we will see if they have what it takes when Tyler PrimeTime Smith goes off and takes them to school along with the other Smith Bros and Lofton hits from way downtown BANG!!Go Vols Prediction Vols 88 Tigers 79

Shawn Lenoir City,Tn. (Sent Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:45 PM)

Can't wait to see those Bolivar boys play.  Wayne Chism from Tennessee and Willie Kemp from Memphis were teammates on Bolivar Central's back-2-back State Championship runs a couple years ago.  Kemp was heavily recruited to go to TN, but opted for Memphis. This should be a fast paced game with lots of lead changes.  Either way, recruiting in the state of TN should get a boost!

Ron, Nashville, TN (Sent Saturday, February 23, 2008 2:43 PM)

Ahhhh memories of the UNLV-Arkansas 1991 tilt where true All-Time College Great Larry Johnson would "fake" his free throw shot to screw with the Razorbacks, before laughing and then dropping a nice 25 - 19 in the second half. I would have liked to see Danny Manning try to do that.

Eli, Manchster CT (Sent Saturday, February 23, 2008 3:53 PM)

Hi, I was wondering what the other five 1 vs 2 in-state matchups?

Don, Marcy, New York (Sent Saturday, February 23, 2008 9:10 PM)

This is the fifth time 1 vs. 2 has happened for in-state teams. The other four were: Ohio State vs. Cincinnati (Buckeyes won in '61 and '62) and Duke vs. North Carolina (Heels won in '94 and '98).

Mike Miller (Sent Saturday, February 23, 2008 10:39 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

More Beyond the Arc

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories:

Syndicate This Site

Add Beyond the Arc to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google

More college basketball blogs

MSNBC Weblogs